12/10/2012

Second winner of record Powerball prize ID'd

Ross D. Franklin / AP

In this Nov. 29 photo, Karen Bach of the Arizona Lottery announces during a news conference in Phoenix that one of the winning tickets in the $579.9 million Powerball jackpot was purchased in Fountain Hills, Ariz.

By NBC News and news services

Matthew Good is likely feeling even better these days.

The Phoenix-area man was identified Monday as the second winner of last week's record $587.5 million Powerball jackpot.

Arizona Lottery officials described Good as a married man in his 30s who moved to the Phoenix suburb of Fountain Hills last year from Pennsylvania. He took the one-time payout of $192 million this month from the Nov. 28 drawing, telling lottery officials he wanted to avoid paying potentially higher taxes in 2013 due to the "fiscal cliff."

Good bought $10 worth of tickets and kept the winner in the visor of his car overnight before realizing he was a multimillionaire, lottery officials said.

After Good and his wife learned of their good fortune, he pulled together a team of financial advisers. Good and his lawyer met with lottery officials and he opted to take the cash option now. He had 180 days to claim the jackpot.

His name was released in response to a public records request filed by media organizations. Good initially decided to remain anonymous.

He bought the winning ticket at a Fountain Hills convenience store.

Lottery officials said his wife owns half the prize because Arizona is a community property state.

Karen Bach, a lottery official, said Good is smart and wants to take time to make a solid financial plan and set up a charitable entity to aid causes that he and his wife support.

Lottery officials wouldn't say what Good does for a living but described him as a professional who has no immediate plans to quit his job.

A search of property records showed that Good paid $289,900 for his 2,500-square-foot Fountain Hills home in September 2011, The Associated Press reported. The real estate listing describes the house as having gorgeous mountain views, vaulted ceilings, a backyard with an outdoor kitchen and a three-car garage, according to AP.

Arizona Lottery officials announce a winning Powerball ticket has been claimed for the record-breaking $587.5 million jackpot. The jackpot is being split with previously announced winners in Missouri.

Good previously issued a statement that said: "It is difficult to express just how thankful we are for this wonderful gift. We are extremely grateful and feel fortunate to now have an increased ability to support our charities and causes. Obviously, this has been incredibly overwhelming and we have always cherished our privacy."

Before the Nov. 28 drawing, the jackpot had rolled over 16 consecutive times without any winners. In a Mega Millions drawing in March, three ticket buyers shared a $656 million jackpot, the largest lottery payout of all time.

Lottery officials said the Arizona couple moved from Pennsylvania a year ago. While in Pennsylvania, they regularly played the lottery but had done so only twice since moving to Arizona, Bach said.

After realizing he had won, Good and his wife spent the weekend trying to recover from the shock, Bach said.

One set of winners, from Missouri, has already come forward. But mystery still surrounds the person who bought the winning ticket in Arizona. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.